On Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:06:02 -0400, Linonut wrote:
> * Arse Cork OK peremptorily fired off this memo:
>
>> On Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:38:35 -0400, Moshe Goldfarb. wrote:
>>
>>> Linux is just not ready for the desktop because there are far too many
>>> hassles.
>>
>> It does take some intelligence to use it - perhaps that is where you have
>> been having trouble?
>
> The "problem" with Linux for most average consumers?
>
> 1. It isn't preloaded, and certainly not under the auspices of a
> monopolistic software vendor.
Except that you can buy a Mac.
Always can/could in fact.
> 2. It isn't an exact clone of Windows.
Somewhat true, but it goes far deeper.
> The second "problem" isn't all that big of one, however, since most
> people really don't grok Windows all that well, either.
Adding hardware is a crap shoot.
Interfacing with the Windows computers at the office is dubious at best.
Getting plugins in browsers to work is a mess.
Using CBT software from your job or school is impossible.
Getting help is tough unless you know where to look. Hint: very few people
even know USENET exists. Seriously.
Sound is a mess.
No iTunes store, and this is a huge one..... (not for me though).
All these online stockbroker, lose weight, exercise videos, how to make a
million dollars in real estate etc DVD courses will not work. This is big
as well . Of course the people making the real money are the people selling
them.
Those gadgets sold on TV won't work, like that X-Jack phone thingie you
plug in and can make pretty much free VOIP calls.
i forget it's name.
As silly as much of the above may sound to the geeks in this group, myself
included, THIS is preciously the kind of stuff that is holding Linux back.
Then you have kids going away to college.
Can you imagine the frustration when a kid, now far away from home, having
to live on her own with all the stress of college also has to adapt her
Linux based laptop to the classes and software that the rest of the school
is running?
Sure, it *may* work fine.
But then again it *might* not.
So why take the risk?
Universities sell pre-loaded Windows/Mac laptops that are ready to go and
include everything needed so that the student can focus on her education
instead of shoe horning a square peg (linux) into a round hole (Windows)..
With the discounts students get on these things it just is not worth it to
screw with free Linux unless the school completely supports it and that
includes every class the student attends, not just to get on the school
network and use BlackBoard etc.
Yes some Universities support Linux, that's a good thing IMHO but the
majority do not.
These are real life incidents that are just the tip of the iceberg when it
comes to the question "why Linux is being ignored".
--
Moshe Goldfarb
Collector of soaps from around the globe.
Please visit The Hall of Linux Idiots:
http://linuxidiots.blogspot.com/